Posted on 05/23/2022 5:14:37 AM PDT by blam
Lithuania has become the second European country within a month to have electricity supplies from Russia halted.
Inter RAO, the only importer of electricity from Russia to Lithuania, confirmed the suspension of deliveries would begin on Sunday, according to Russian state-media Tass News Agency. Earlier this month, Inter RAO’s Nordic branch stopped sending power to Finland after formally applying to join NATO.
“According to the decision of the electricity exchange operator Nord Pool, trading in electricity generated in Russia, which was carried out by Inter RAO (through its subsidiary Inter RAO Lietuva), is terminated” starting from May 22, Lithuania’s Energy Ministry said in a statement.
It wasn’t immediately clear why power trading between both countries was halted, though it comes as the Baltic nation (and NATO member) was the first European Union member to slash natural gas imports from Russia last month.
Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys said Friday that cutting imports of Russian energy supplies, including oil, electricity, and natural gas, has allowed it to become “energy independent.”
While Lithuania says halting Russian energy imports is a move toward energy freedom, Inter RAO explained that the country could not pay for electricity.
“Inter RAO has received notices from [exchange operator] Nord Pool about the suspension of trading by subsidiaries due to the risk of being unable to pay for Russian electricity,” the company told TASS.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently declared that “unfriendly countries” countries must pay for energy products in rubles. He said if any country refuses to settle in Russian currency, “existing contracts will be suspended.”
Form Sunday, Lithuania will ramp up domestic electricity generation and increase imports from other EU countries. The latest figures show Lithuania, in 2021, imported 17% of all its domestic electricity demand from Russia.
What’s apparent is that Russian energy supplies are being reduced towards NATO countries or countries attempting to join NATO, along with ones who refuse to pay rubles.
I’m shocked.
Good, the sooner all countries get weened off of the criminal thug pariah the better. Short term pain, long term gain.
While Lithuania says halting Russian energy imports is a move toward energy freedom...
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They mean freedom from energy, not energy freedom.
Do you suppose the Supreme Court justices regret their misguided decision to dismiss the evidence of massive fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election?
Some people can recognize in advance foolish decisions and the catastrophic results to which they will lead it time to avoid making them. They are called smart people.
Some can't. They are called stupid people.
Q: what does God have in common with the catholic church? A: not a thing.
Well said.
Gee I wonder what America could do ???
(Nana scratches her wee head in puzzlement)
An understandable sentiment, but the Merkel 'Energiewende' was a tragedy of green thinking for Germany, and therefore for Europe as a while. Sometimes I wonder whether the Greens in Europe are not nearly an equivalent to a Putin, for the expansive and invasive nature of the EU itself is but an extension of power as it war.
Whatever one's political stripes, there is one unavoidable fact. To enjoy the gifts of energy, one must "burn" something, whether it be various petroleum based products, the turbine-capturing method of gravity or the atom. Energy drives manufacturing, so "green" essentially stands against prosperity.
Europe has relied on Russian imports, as well as Middle East suppliers, to salve their "we're green by not drilling or burning coal" with pretense. In doing so, they put themselves into the hands of Russia and other suppliers. Short sighted, irrespective of the rhetoric.
In a similar manner, the Biden America is gutting a Trump era energy boon. How Merkel-like.
Headline should say “Exports” to Lithuania halted. Lithuania is not stopping its imports of Russian oil.
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